Catalina Express Checking Weight of Luggage

[drbill]

I headed to Catalina thursday through Sunday and DID have my dive bag checked on the scale as well as most of the few divers that I saw leaving that day. But they were checking only divers bags. I saw several people with very large suitcases (bigger than my dive bag) and they didn't give them a second look. Thought it was kind of crazy since everyone is handling their own bags. I'm sure this must be the start of something else to come. (like they will start loading your luggage for "free" and charging you more to travel) But they did not check on the return trip. I guess it must not be a issue on your return to the mainland. You're only heavy heading to the island.

Now THAT would REALLY concern me.

I can't boycott Avalon since I live here, but I am concerned about the impact this will have on divers coming to the dive park. It already is more economical for many to take mainland dive boats to our island sites, due in large part to the fares on the Express. Enforcing this policy, especially if it is being enforced only against divers, will certainly help drive a decline in our already depressed economy.

I encourage those who are bothered by this to contact the Catalina Express directly as well as the Chamber of Commerce (the Santa Catalina Island Company really has little to do with this issue). Please be courteous in addressing the issue and point out the apparent inconsistencies if you see it being applied selectively only to divers. I plan to talk to the owners of all three dive shops to see if they will add their leverage to this.

If visits to the dive park decrease any further, I may be able to dive it completely solo even on weekends. Of course that would eliminate the poor visibility stirred up by the classes... but who would I have to socialize with topside?

 

[Teamcasa]

My lovely bride and I are headed to the park this Saturday. I'll try to pay close attention to what's going on and report back.

 

[KVH]

I can confirm that two weeks ago when I visited the dive park, I was the only person on a full boat that got pull aside, my gear weighed, and then separated. I had two bags on a small two wheel hand truck and they made me take one off and carry it on my back. With the exception of my girl friend (who also had a hand truck and who they did not harass) I saw no other divers on the boat.

With all that said, I just called Catalina Express and asked their team lead to clarify the policy concerning hand trucks. He admitted that he was not clear on the policy but believes that trucks must be disassembled at the gate and the items on it carried on and stored separately. He stated that this was the decision of the person at the gate and admitted that it might not be consistent for all passengers (certainly my experience). I protested about the lack of consistency and asked to speak to someone that clearly understood the policy and he pointed me to the Passenger Services Coordination who is not in at the moment. I will keep you all posted.

 

[DwayneJ]

If visits to the dive park decrease any further, I may be able to dive it completely solo even on weekends. Of course that would eliminate the poor visibility stirred up by the classes... but who would I have to socialize with topside?

... if no one uses it, the cost of maintaining buoys, fill stands, bathrooms etc would likely force these services to be dropped and then you have just another beach dive location.

Since there have been so many conspiracy theories lately... Maybe its a plan to drive divers away so the area can be redeveloped?

 

[cool_hardware52]

My *guess* is the Express needs to show they have taken some action to reduce their employees exposure to injury. Injury claims are expensive.

Tobin

 

[Rainer]

I can understand the weight restrictions on the smaller boats with conveyor belts (crew must handle gear in this case), but for the larger boats, couldn't they simply make passengers load/unload any gear to avoid liability?

Jen and I were planning to head to the dive park in two weekends for a day of scootering. Now not sure I want to bother if it's going to be a huge hassle...

 

[AndyScuba]

Response

 

[KVH]

My *guess* is the Express needs to show they have taken some action to reduce their employees exposure to injury. Injury claims are expensive.

Tobin

Possibly true, but if the passengers have to disassemble their hand trucks and carry the items themselves (as I did) then they are transferring the risk of injury to their customers.

 

[SoBay Jim]

It's probably due to the new USCG AAWPP. Don't you love govt acronyms Assumed Average Weight Per Person. The USCG realized that their old weight per passenger didn't apply to todays plus size passenger so they upped the weight. More weight per passenger means the vessel can carry less passengers in some cases. Some vessels need to get new stability certificates.

Weight has become a critical issue on certain boats

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5212/docs/secg12142010.pdf

(2) Weight compensation. One method to
demonstrate compliance with the new AAWPP requirement
is to reduce the cargo weight carried by an amount equal
to the difference in permitted weight of passengers and
crew associated with the new and old AAWPPs. This is only
available to vessels carrying either deck or vehicular cargo
in addition to passengers.
(3) Direct verification. Every time a vessel is loaded,
the owner or operator ensures that the weight of persons
loaded on the vessel does not exceed the total permitted
weight. The way this may be verified, such as weighing all
persons as they board,

My understanding is that the above referenced regulations are what's driving the policy. Some of what concerns me is that the Express is apparently applying the rules subjectively to some dive passengers and not others (based on Daz88's and others experience). As for Dr. Bill and my recommendation to reach out to the chamber of commerce, I've not received a response to my email from two days ago.

As I mentioned, I plan to speak with Bob Kennedy no later than the Long Beach scuba show to see what can be done collectively to solve the problem. I don't think a boycott is the answer and am hopeful there is a better way - maybe a meeting with the Catalina Express, chamber of commerce and some well respected divers (who can pull in the publishers of California Diving News, the promoters of the Long Beach Scuba Show and or Ken Kurtis and the Chamber Day people) to discuss a workable solution that meets everyone's needs.

The more people who reach out and try to find a positive solution, the better our chances.
The chamber can be reached at
310-510-1520 or email info@CatalinaChamber.com
and the Public Relations/Media department at Catalina Express
310-519-7971 ext 1000 or Mail@CatalinaExpress.com

 

[KVH]

If you haven't seen the Dive Matrix posting on this issue, check it out. Good information.

Catalina Express Ferry, Change in bag weight limits, May 2011